I can't imagine that our favorite couple didn't have children and that puts them in the same boat with so many. Balancing a career and family takes the mindset of those who multi-task naturally, can appear to be in two places at one time, and cover ground in a hurry. The agency had trained them well.

From 'Bonds Of Steele,' their first hurdle in their married life was Season 5. After they, along with the viewers, got through that disconnected experience, I would like to think they began to settle into their lives as a married couple with the demands of their careers and their newly found happiness. A reader reminded me they would likely not have started a family for a time, but by late 1989, I believe the first little Steele arrived. I have the second rolling in about two years later. The third slid into home as a surprise. In all of this, I think Remington took to parenting, like a duck takes to water and Laura, perhaps a bit more reluctant initially, found the bond with her children an indescribable experience she hadn't anticipated. The two of them were as committed to their children as they were to each other.

Disclaimer: These wonderful characters belong to MTM and this story is purely for entertainment purposes only. No copyright infringement intended.

Image of Steele

Spring 2014

Remington Steele moved down the hallway from the kitchen, watching the late afternoon light play across the floor, as he followed the sound of his wife's voice. From the tone of her voice, he would guess she was on the phone with one of their children, though it seemed strange to think of them as children anymore. All three were young adults, no longer at home. Looking around the corner, he watched his wife absorbed in her conversation, looking out the window. He quietly closed the distance to her and slid his arm around her waist pulling her closer to him. She placed her free hand on his arm to secure his hold on her, and he heard rather than saw the smile on her face.

"It sounds like a very special night and we'll be sure to hold it open. Anything at the Getty Center is bound to be spectacular." Laura seemed to be affirming what was being said and clearly she was talking to Kathryn. "Oh, I don't know about shopping. I think my closet will give me plenty of choices and your father has a tux for every occasion." She listened, as she leaned into her husband. "Thanks for the call. It's always good to catch up with you, and we'll look forward to a special night." She laid the cordless phone down and turned in Remington's arms. " Special plans for a big night at the Center." She smiled softly, asking, "Are you up for that?"

"If you're in, so am I." He leaned into her with a soft kiss. "Kathryn, I assume?"

She nodded her head. "The world of art history, preservation and conservation. She's covered an amazing amount of ground in a hurry."

"Takes that from her mother."

"And I would say she gets that from her father." Looking at one another they both chuckled. "Some ground we covered quickly, and some . . . not so much."

"And we both remember who was in charge of the . . . not so much." He leaned his forehead to touch his wife's.

"I think we're off track here, just a bit." Laura paused, "But you do know she's so clearly her father's daughter, it's amazing. The one thing I can take credit for is that's she's left-handed."

Remington took a breath in puzzlement, furrowing his brow and leaned back to look carefully at Laura. "That's it. She's left-handed." He mulled that thought. Kathryn, their middle child, was the one who from a very early age loved to have a crayon, pen or pencil in her hand to draw. A favorite pastime, to his delight, in those early years was to sit in his lap and watch him draw for her. The down side of this interest was that she often decided to try her burgeoning skill on any near-by surface. A number of places in their home had at one time or another born proof of her enthusiasm. But regardless of where she decided to practice the skill, from a father's point of view, she had talent and a keen eye for perspective. The rumble from his stomach brought him back to the present.

"Hungry, are we?" Laura looked at him and said, "I know the feeling."

"I came looking for you to say, I've a small repast ready for us." Taking her hand, he led her toward the breakfast nook, just off the kitchen. Perfect for a quiet meal with just the two of them, when they had the time to enjoy the view and catch up on their lives.

As Laura placed the silverware and china on the table, he carried in a tray holding a light meal and poured wine for the two of them. "Seems quiet now." She looked approvingly at the delicious salad and sandwich. "So glad I never mastered the art of cooking." She spoke looking pleased with herself. "And there again, Kathryn can do a nice job in the kitchen, although she's not as adapt as you with gourmet creations."

"Her heart isn't in the art of cuisine, as we both know. She's our resident art historian, preservationist, and conservationist. I'll grant you that she and I enjoy the world of art and all that goes with that," Remington conceded. "Beyond that, I'm not sure I follow your reasoning about how much we are alike."

"All right. Putting aside any reference to art for the moment, if you didn't see it in her early years, it's more obvious now." Laura stopped eating and leaned her elbow on the table as she focused her thoughts and attention on her husband. "For starters, Kathryn is quite tall, very slender with graceful, long legs. That dark, lush hair that always seems to be in perfect order and her blue eyes . . . a perfect match for the ones I'm looking into at this very moment." She lifted her eyebrows and then asked, "Would you like for me to continue?"

"Well, I understand that she's got my hair and eye color, but –"

Laura shook her head is quiet amazement and went on. "Watch you daughter move, her body language. For a child who never took a dance lesson or participated in any organized sport, her coordination is amazing. She didn't get that from me."

"Oh, come on Laura. You're no klutz." Remington knew he could recite the amazing things he's watched his wife do over the years, as they faced repeated challenges that called for dexterity.

"True. But I worked at that . . . a great deal. What I trained for so I could meet the physical demands of the job, Kathryn can do naturally. Just like you!

He began to get the feeling he was in trouble, and he wasn't quite sure for what.

"And then there's Kathryn's ability to eat anything . . . absolutely anything, and not gain an ounce! She certainly didn't get that from me."

Remington recognized the potential for getting into very deep water at this point. His wife was so driven and determined to maintain her size, physical stamina and flexibility that any weight gain of even a pound was cause for intense workouts. To add to the challenge, her ability over the years to run in any type of shoe had taken its toll on her feet and slowed her down a bit. But then, the years with all the tumbles, cracked and broken bones had slowly caught up with them both to some extent. Diplomacy was definitely needed here.

"Laura, I challenge you to name one woman, who after having three children and a very challenging career that demanded physical dexterity . . ." He cleared his throat. "One woman who looks as wonderful . . . as you do . . .today." His eyebrows went up but his blue eyes held her gaze with an intensity that made her pause.

"You always know how and when to say the right thing. Thank you!" Her smiling eyes expressed her feelings even as her mind continued to stay right on track. "But that's another thing that Kathryn has gotten from you. Her ability to charm . . . pretty much anyone she meets."

He had to smile, but wanted to laugh knowing that wouldn't bode well at this moment. First of all, his ability to say the right thing at the right time was questionable, as she well knew. His wife had a gift for being gracious and kind, that went far beyond any charm he might have. This might not be the best moment to try and bring that up.

"And then there is the matter of Kathryn's hands."

Remington came back to their subject with a start. "Excuse me?"

"Her hands. She has beautiful hands with long fingers. I told you when she was born, she got those long fingers from you." Laura was back to the voice she used to tick things off a list.

He glanced down, nonchalantly at his hands. "Well, she and I both have long fingers."

"I know you've watched her hands as she's sketching something and before you say it, no doubt others sketching might use similar motions or method of holding pen or pencil. But what about watching her as she works on a tiny intricate project as she attempts to preserve a piece of art. She's had us in the lab to see that several times." Laura paused.

Remington wondered where this was going, and felt certain he was about to be told.

"I've watched you use your hands over the years to crack open a safe, pic a lock, handle a valuable jewel . . . " Laura seemed to suddenly lose steam. "I'm sorry. I have no idea why I got so carried away." She let out a short breath and gave a small shrug of her shoulder. "Kathryn is our daughter and a gorgeous young lady, who inherited much of her looks, talent and charm from her father." Laura smiled, as she said, "And she has indeed accomplished a great deal in a short time."

Treading carefully, Remington cleared his throat. "If I'm responsible for many of the physical characteristics, interests, and mind set of Kathryn, I must tell you that our youngest is the image of her mother. Hum?"

"Jillian and I do seem to share some similarities."

"That, my dear, is an understatement." Giving his wife a level look, he motioned with his hand toward her eyes. "If my eyes are much the same color as Kathryn's, Jillian has been gifted with your beautiful brown eyes. Right?"

Laura seemed about to respond and then paused. "She and I do have some common ground." His wife appeared to drift from their conversation, staring out the window, as the last light of evening was fading quickly.

"What are you - - "

"You know," Laura paused realizing she had cut her husband's question off.

"- - thinking?" Remington finished his question and watched as he could see Laura's thought process changing gear.

"Sorry." Realizing she had drifted to a different line of thought, she explained, "I was just thinking about Kathryn and Jillian and how different they are in temperament and personality. But they have a special relationship as sisters, who are little more than a year and a half apart in age, and seem to accept each other's differences. They always have."

Steele observed, "Kathryn wasn't one to make the older sister thing a big deal. Some how she just let Jillian follow at her own pace and, heaven forbid, didn't try to help her." He chuckled, "We all learned to let Jillian pick herself up, catch up, or figure out a new challenge on her own." Remington lowered his head, just a bit and gave his wife a gaze. "Some of us had received previous, hands-on training in that area." Pausing, he grinned at his wife, who gave him a roll of her eyes. "Kathryn seemed to have an instinct that served her well with her sister."

"But then," Steele's eyebrows climbed as he leaned forward just a bit, "there was a big brother trying to watch over the both of them." He emphasized his words with his fore finger. "Braden could really set the boat to rocking when he tried to corral them both. He seemed at times to be a shepherd watching the sheep."

Laura shook her head, remembering any number of times that ended in a loud, raucous scene that had to be sorted out. "Kathryn could let most of it go, but Jillian was more than ready to stand her ground and take Braden on."

"Braden didn't realize what a formidable set of sisters he was trying to manage." The dazzling Steele smile spread across his face.

"Watching Kathryn and Jillian, and their relationship as sisters, makes me look back at the fact Frances and I didn't have that. Certainly not in the early years." Laura let out a long sigh. "Like Jillian and Kathryn, we had very different personalities, but she and I had a greater difference in our ages. Somehow, I always felt . . . so alone." She looked directly at her husband for a moment, appearing to decide what she was going to say. Motioning with both hands she said softly, "It was like two people in very deep water, and not able to help each other."

Remington watched his wife's face closely, understanding what she wasn't saying. The fact that her father deserted her and the family, and her mother pushed her to be like her older sister had impacted Laura's life with self-doubt.

"It's been good to watch the girls grow together, sharing lots of the challenges that today's world can throw at them." With a calmer tone, she asked, "Do you realize how often they go to each other first, with good news or bad? When Kathryn called earlier, she had already talked to Jillian. Long ago, I realized we weren't the first to get a phone call or message . . . that's an emotional bond I didn't have with Frances." Laura seemed to realize that the one whose blue eyes were following her every word, never knew that bond himself. She pulled herself up, taking higher ground. "Thankfully, Frances moved out here and we have become much closer. We've found ways to share our lives I never expected."

"Frances and Donald, with their three grown kids and our three have become an interesting mix. Important to us all."

Laura chuckled and Remington looked puzzled. "I was remembering those weeks after they moved out here so Donald could teach. I thought I was going to lose my mind and was reasonably sure Frances had completely lost hers." She reached over to touch her husband's hand. "You were much better in that entire transition, than I was."

"Well, better at playing a detective perhaps." With a mischievous wink, he continued, "But I must admit that whole episode was a bit bizarre."

"Forget the dead body and hysteria. You had empathy for Frances and her emotional turmoil, and I did not." Laura squeezed his hand refusing to let go. Holding the gaze of those blue eyes she knew so well, she said, "Just put Jillian and Kathryn in that circumstance. I know it would have played out very differently."

Remington conceded his wife's point with a small nod of his head. "I'm not at all sure we could explain how we've accomplished it, but we've let these two be themselves. At times, it seemed to me like walking through a mine field." He tapped his lips with his napkin explaining, "Didn't want to set off a fire storm over a minor issue in the long term."

"Always careful to pick the battles to be waged." Laura affirmed what her husband had stated.

"And our son has had the experience of growing up in a home with two sisters . . . ah, understanding that some battles aren't worth the fight." He paused before saying too much.

Laura looked at him as though she had just scored an easy volley. "You mean he's learned a good bit about handling the female sex by growing up with Kathryn and Jillian."

"Well, yes! And if he hasn't, I wouldn't hold out much hope for him."

Laura let out a soft chuckle. "He's got his act together, and we both know that. "You're a good man and I'm a very lucky lady. Our son and daughters have had a foundation of love and security that you and I only dreamed of having." She pushed her chair back getting up, as she began moving things back onto the tray. "You did the prep and I'll clean this up."

Remington reflected, "This has been the quietest stretch we've had here for over a week."

Laura looked over at the man who had been at the heart of her life for over thirty years. "On second thought, I can do this later." Looking at those wonderful blue eyes, she could read him like a book, as he could her.

"Much later." His tone spoke volumes, as he moved toward her.

She wrapped her arms around his waist. "Maybe even tomorrow morning."

They turned off various lights in tandem, as they moved through the house together toward the bedroom.